Hopkins snags top spot in Javelin, gets ready for SHIP!

COATESVILLE—On Saturday at Red Raiders Stadium, there was what seemed like an endless parade to the medal stand, for the boys and girls clad in the blue and gold of the Indians.

Early on in the day pole vaulter Derek Larson set a new personal best by clearing 14 feet to punch his ticket to the PIAA State championship meet at Shippensburg University, and that was just the start of good news for the Unionville team.

Perry Hopkins, fresh off his last Penn Relays performance at the high school level, came into Saturday’s action as one of five boys that realistically had a chance to claim gold, and after the dust cleared it was Hopkins that was standing atop of the podium with the District One first place hardware around his neck

“I am very happy,” said Hopkins “I had such a brain dead performance at the Penn Relays. I was a head case down there, I just thought too much and let my head get in the way. I just came in here and had fun and let it fly.”

Hopkins’ throw of 195’ 0 “ may not have eclipsed his personal record of 208’ 4”, but it was strong enough to surpass Pope John Paul II stand out senior Jacob Gribb and a throw of 190’ 0”.

“I just wanted to do my best here and enjoy my last time at districts,” added Hopkins. “The best thing about District One is that most of the best in the state are here, so it really helps when you get to the state meet. It’s going to be great to have so many teammates out there.”

The winning didn’t stop with Hopkins as 800-meter specialist Steve Yannacone qualified for the state meet on Friday then blew away the field which had some very highly touted runners in it, including state champion Drew Magaha from Upper Moreland.

“I’m excited about qualifying for the state meet, but really we are just running around a track a couple of times,” said Yannacone, who had a very interesting point of view on the importance of athletics in general. “It’s not like we are solving any of the world’s problems or saving any one. We get all bunched up because every one is so good at this level. It is such a hype competitive environment, you just can’t let it get to you.”